Coaches sought at Apple Valley, Eastview, Northfield

Plenty of coaching positions are starting to open up south of the Minnesota River.

Two prominent jobs are open in the South Suburban Conference. They are the boys’ hockey position at Apple Valley and the volleyball position at Eastview.

A third coaching job, Northfield boys’ basketball, also recently has become available.

Apple Valley boys’ hockey coach Jerry Hayes resigned to spend more time with his family.

Hayes, in a news release, called it “an absolute honor and privilege to represent Apple Valley High School as the boys’ hockey coach for the past 15 seasons. I have always treated the position as a huge responsibility to represent the school and the community as well as we could.”

Hayes compiled a 220-164-20 record during his tenure. He previously coached at Minneapolis Southwest for three seasons.

Eastview volleyball coach Becky Egan has departed to take over the Hamline University program. She replaces Audrey Ludwig, who left to become an assistant coach at the University of Maryland.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to be at the college level,” Egan said in a news release. “The MIAC is a terrific conference.”

Egan coached at Eastview the past 11 seasons. She guided the Lightning to a runner-up finish in the Class 3A state tournament in 2008.

“You just don’t replace somebody like Becky,” Eastview athletic/activities director Matt Percival said. “We were very blessed and fortunate to have her as long as we did. She is one of those really special ones. We will deeply, deeply miss her.”

Andy Jaynes stepped down from Northfield’s boys’ basketball program to also spend more time with his family. He had been coaching at the high school and collegiate level the past 18 years.

Jaynes took over the Raiders’ squad for the 2011-12 school year. He had a 12-41 overall record in his two seasons.

Top performances

• Apple Valley’s boys’ basketball team is most noted for Tyus Jones, but two other starters — senior guard Dustin Fronk and junior forward Dennis Austin — played significant roles in the program winning its first state championship this year.

Austin scored 49 points and Fronk had 40 in the three state tournament games. All three were named to the all-tournament team. The Eagles topped Park Center 74-57 in the Class 4A title game.

• Lakeville North sophomore forward Connor Flack came off the bench to score 17 points and grab eight rebounds in the Panthers’ 74-72 overtime loss to Park Center in the Class 4A quarterfinals. The 6-3 Flack went 7-for-11 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line. He entered the tournament averaging 5.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Damian Lillard scored seven of his 18 points in the final 3:16, and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to break their five-game losing streak, beating the Miami Heat 102-95 on Wednesday night.